Personnel from IU Ventures, IU ICO, Kelley School of Business at IUPUI scheduled to speak

INDIANAPOLIS -- For the third year in a row, the IUPUI campus will host events that can help the general public, especially women and underrepresented minorities, learn more about entrepreneurship and commercializing university inventions.

The 2019 AWARE: ACCESS program includes three workshops in September and October at Hine Hall, Room IP106, 875 W. North St. There will also be a November summit at the University of Louisville.

All events are sponsored by the National Science Foundation, Indiana University, the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, and the University of Louisville. Online registration is required.

Sept. 5, 10 a.m. to noon:M. Kim Saxton, clinical professor of marketing at the Kelley School of Business at IUPUI, will speak about her book "The Titanic Effect: Successfully Navigating the Uncertainties That Sink Most Startups" and provide tips on business pitches. Katherine Moynihan and Jason Whitney of IU Ventures will speak about the Indiana Philanthropic Venture Fund and other university initiatives to foster new ventures. Karen White, interim executive director of the IU Innovation and Commercialization Office, will speak about partnering with the office on commercializing university intellectual property.

Oct. 4, 10 a.m. to noon: Saxton, Moynihan and Whitney will join Todd Saxton, associate professor of strategy and entrepreneurship at the Kelley School of Business at IUPUI, to speak about business pitches and examine templates of slide decks that can be used to pitch to potential partners, investors and other interested parties.

Oct. 25, noon to 2 p.m.: During this pitch competition, attendees will receive expert feedback on their work. Judges include M. Kim Saxton, Todd Saxton, and representatives from Elevate Ventures and gener8tor gBETA.

What they're saying

"AWARE: ACCESS will make significant progress in encouraging women, African-Americans and other underrepresented groups to consider entrepreneurship. It also will break down barriers, which is important to the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, whose key mission is to help Indiana startup companies translate research to commercialization." -- Padma Portonovo, Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute

"One of the goals of IU Ventures is to connect Indiana University-related startups with resources, training and management. AWARE: ACCESS has always been a great opportunity to build on that." -- Katherine Moynihan, IU Ventures

"It's a great opportunity when we can combine practical business experience with university collaboration to create new entrepreneurial success for women and minority-led startups. I am honored to share ideas to help pave the path to successful commercialization of research innovation." -- M. Kim Saxton, Kelley School of Business at IUPUI